Bevacizumab Treatment for Low-Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer: A Systematic Review
Low-grade Serous ovarian cancer (LGSOC) is a completely different cancer type to the commonest high-grade version. Found in about 5% of all ovarian cancer LGSOC has a different mutation, occurs in younger women and is slow growing but resistant to chemotherapy.
With full surgical clearance the 5-year survival is about 85%. Because of the resistance to standard chemo there is much research into finding alternative treatment. LGSOC is often noted to be oestrogen receptor positive so aromatase inhibitors such as Arimidex are used to block oestrogen production. Otherwise, the usual platinum-based chemo is commenced.
This retrospective review looks at treatment with Bevacizumab; a monoclonal antibody which inhibits new vessel formation in cancer thereby restricting growth. From a literature search, 163 patients were identified who received Bevacizumab. Those patients had better response to treatment than occurred with standard treatment. The authors suggest that although Bevacizumab has a greater incidence of significant side effects, it should be part of the standard of care.
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